Despite struggles, Tiger Woods makes PGA history

Jan. 28, 2013

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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Tiger Woods celebrates his victory in the 2013 Farmers Insurance Open at the Torrey Pines Golf Course on Monday. Tiger won the tournament with a fourteen under par. PAUL BERSEBACH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Tiger Woods hits out of the sand trap during the final round of the 2013 Farmers Insurance Open at the Torrey Pines Golf Course on Monday. PAUL BERSEBACH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Tiger Woods acknowledges the crowd on his way to the eighteenth green during the final round of the 2013 Farmers Insurance Open at the Torrey Pines Golf Course on Monday. Tiger won the tournament with a fourteen under par. PAUL BERSEBACH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Eirk Compton hits out of the sand trap during the final round of the 2013 Farmers Insurance Open at the Torrey Pines Golf Course on Monday. PAUL BERSEBACH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Tiger Woods tees off during the 2013 Farmers Insurance Open at the Torrey Pines Golf Course on Monday. Woods won the tournament with a fourteen under par. PAUL BERSEBACH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Eirk Compton reacts after his drive went into the sand trap during the final round of the 2013 Farmers Insurance Open at the Torrey Pines Golf Course on Monday. PAUL BERSEBACH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Tiger Woods watches his drive on the thirteenth hole during the 2013 Farmers Insurance Open at the Torrey Pines Golf Course on Monday. Tiger won the tournament with a fourteen under par. PAUL BERSEBACH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Tiger Woods reacts after hitting out of a sand trap during the final round of the 2013 Farmers Insurance Open at the Torrey Pines Golf Course on Monday. PAUL BERSEBACH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Tiger Woods lines up a putt on the eighth hole during the 2013 Farmers Insurance Open at the Torrey Pines Golf Course on Monday. Tiger won the tournament with a fourteen under par. PAUL BERSEBACH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Brad Fritsch tees off during the 2013 Farmers Insurance Open at the Torrey Pines Golf Course on Monday. PAUL BERSEBACH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Billy Horschel watches his drive during the final round of the 2013 Farmers Insurance Open at the Torrey Pines Golf Course on Monday. PAUL BERSEBACH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Tiger Woods is silhouetted against the ocean during the 2013 Farmers Insurance Open at the Torrey Pines Golf Course on Monday. Tiger won the tournament with a fourteen under par. PAUL BERSEBACH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Tiger Woods raises the championship trophy at the 2013 Farmers Insurance Open at the Torrey Pines Golf Course on Monday. Tiger won the tournament with a fourteen under par. PAUL BERSEBACH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Tiger Woods celebrates his victory in the 2013 Farmers Insurance Open at the Torrey Pines Golf Course on Monday. Tiger won the tournament with a fourteen under par. PAUL BERSEBACH, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

SAN DIEGO – It wasn't pretty, but it didn't have to be.

Tiger Woods entered Monday at Torrey Pines with such a commanding lead that his final-day struggles ended up only an afterthought.

Despite a shaky 3-over performance on his final 11 holes, Woods still secured a comfortable four-shot victory at the Farmers Insurance Open, finishing the five-day tournament Monday with a 14-under-par 274.

"I pretty much did everything well this week, and built myself a nice little cushion," Woods said. "I had some mistakes at the end, but all my good play before that really allowed me to afford those mistakes."

Woods went into the tournament's final day – stretched to Monday because of fog delays Saturday – with a seven-stroke lead and 11 holes to play. He extended that lead to eight with a birdie on the 13th before a mini-implosion cost him four strokes over the next four holes.

Even so, no golfer got any closer than four strokes from him at any point Monday. Reigning Farmers champion Brandt Snedeker and Josh Teater each shot 69 in the final round to finish at 10-under 278.

Woods, 37, is now the owner of 75 career PGA Tour victories – second-best all-time, to Sam Snead – and eight tour triumphs at Torrey Pines, including his 2008 U.S. Open victory. No golfer had ever recorded eight tour triumphs on the same course.

"Not too bad," Woods said when informed of the numbers.

Counting the seven holes he played Sunday and Monday's action, Woods' final round took nearly six hours to complete. For much of Monday's back nine, the group playing in front of Woods lagged a hole behind, and he said it affected his play.

"I don't know if anybody would have beaten him this week," said 2009 Farmers champion Nick Watney, who finished tied for fourth at 9-under 279. "He's definitely on his game. When he gets like that, you've got to play your best to compete."

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